Local jobless rates down for October

Kate Hessling, Tribune Staff Writer

Published 2:14 pm, Friday, April 22, 2016

UPPER THUMB — The Huron and Sanilac labor market areas posted the largest jobless rate reductions in the Mid-Michigan region during the month of October, according to new local jobless data issued Tuesday by the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth (DELEG).

Both of those local labor market areas posted unemployment rate reductions of .9 percent, according to Tuesday’s report.

The Thumb Area Michigan Works! Area saw a decrease in unemployment, from 13.7 percent in September to 13.2 percent in October.

The Thumb Area Michigan Works! Area includes Huron, Tuscola, Sanilac and Lapeer counties. Local statistics for each of those counties are issued by small labor market areas included in the Mid-Michigan region which, in addition to the Thumb, includes Midland, Shiawassee, Clare, Roscommon, Gladwin, Iosco, Ogemaw and Arenac counties.

October’s jobless rates dropped in nine of the 12 local labor market areas, with declines ranging from .1 to .9 percentage points, according to Tuesday’s report. The report states the jobless rates exhibited fairly typical movements throughout the region, and over-the-month changes in employment and labor force levels were mostly seasonal.

“Continued gains from educational facilities recalling staff for the fall semester contributed to employment advances, while areas with a higher concentration of summer tourism employment posted notable declines in the labor force,” the report states.

The Huron Labor Market Area’s unemployment rate decreased from 13.1 percent in September to 12.2 percent in October. There remains a total of 1,825 unemployed in the Huron Labor Market Area, which is 125 less than were unemployed in September, and 200 less than in October 2009, when Huron’s unemployment rate was 13.2 percent.

In total, Huron’s labor force has decreased 375 from October 2009.

The Sanilac Labor Market Area’s unemployment rate decreased from 14.7 percent in September to 13.8 percent in October. As of October, there remains 2,650 unemployed in the Sanilac Labor Market Area, which is 150 less than in September, and 575 less than in October 2009, when Sanilac’s unemployment rate was 16.1 percent.

Sanilac’s labor force has decreased 952 since October 2009.

The Tuscola Labor Market Area’s unemployment rate decreased from 13.9 percent in September to 13.2 percent in October. There remains 3,475 unemployed in this area, which is 225 less than the previous month, and 625 less than in October 2009, when Tuscola’s unemployment rate was 15.1 percent.

Tuscola’s labor force has decreased 775 since October 2009.

Statewide, Michigan’s unemployment rate decreased from 12.3 percent in September to 12 percent in October.

As of October, there remains 578,000 unemployed in Michigan. That is 16,400 less than were unemployed in September, and 87,800 less than in October 2009, when the state’s unemployment rate was 13.7 percent. The state’s labor force has decreased 38,900 since October 2009.

Local unemployment information for the month of November is scheduled to be released Jan. 4, 2011, according to Regional Economic Analyst Rhea Acuna, of the DELEG’s Bureau of Labor Market Information.